Samir Nasri could join Başakşehir new boy Gaël Clichy and possibly Bacary Sagna (who is subject to interest from Bursaspor) in playing his club football in Turkey next season, with Süper Lig giants Galatasaray stepping up their interest in him.

One of Nasri’s representatives recently admitted there is interest from Serie A and China in the 30-year-old playmaker, unwanted by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but he may also have the option of playing in Istanbul next year.

According to major Turkish news outlet Sabah, Galatasaray sporting director Cenk Ergün first made contact for Nasri during the UEFA Europa League draw, held in Geneva last month, when he sat down with Nasri’s agent. And it is claimed that they made an agreement there.

With a personal agreement sorted, Galatasaray moved on to talks with Manchester City, with whom Nasri still has two years remaining on his contract. No details on how that meeting went are offered, with City perhaps considering different proposals and options for Nasri.

Galatasaray’s idea is for Nasri and new signing Younès Belhanda to replace Wesley Sneijder and Bruma, two of their star players who have left the club this season. Nasri and Belhanda would rotate between the number 10 and wing positions left vacant by veteran Sneijder and young gun Bruma, who has moved to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

As always with the Turkish media, a story like this has to be treated with healthy scepticism. Half of City’s squad has been linked with a move to the Süper Lig this summer – there was even a feature story of club captain Vincent Kompany possibly joining Galatasaray, while Wilfried Bony continues to be linked with Fenerbahçe.

For Nasri, a move to Serie A is likely to appeal more on a sporting level than Turkey, while the big money China option has now gone away with their transfer window closing. However, having managed to attract the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Lukas Podolski in recent years, Galatasaray can’t be ruled out as an option.